Prineville drug suspect who led police on high-speed chase is arrested hours later in Harney County
KTVZ
BURNS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Prineville man who refused to stop for police and hit speeds over 100 mph in a pursuit was arrested several hours later, nearly 200 miles away in Harney County, with illegal drugs in his possession, authorities said Tuesday.
Prineville Police tried to pull over a white Nissan Altima around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday on SE Combs Flat Road east of Prineville. The driver, Clay Jamison, 46, is believed to be connected to a drug investigation over the past month, Detective Sergeant Jordan Zamora said.
Jamison refused to stop for officers, sparking a pursuit during which Jamison allegedly drove recklessly after reaching speeds of over 100 mph.
Zamora told KTVZ News that Jamison reached NE Third Street, which becomes Highway 26 (the Ochoco Highway) but failed to yield to them as he headed east from Prineville.
“The pursuit was terminated due to public safety concerns,” Zamora said in a news release.
Because of his direction of travel, Prineville Police notified the sheriff’s offices in Wheeler, Grant and Harney counties, as well as Oregon State Police, to be on the lookout for Jamison.
Zamora said he was found in Harney County several hours later and taken into custody by OSP without further incident.
Burns Police said the wanted fugitive was apprehended around 1:15 p.m. Sunday by officers from all agencies in that area, including Burns and Hines police, Harney County sheriff’s deputies and OSP troopers.
Jamison also was found in possession of felony amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine, the Prineville detective said.
Jamison was taken to the Harney County Jail and faces new Crook County charges of felony attempt to elude law enforcement and reckless driving.
“Prineville Police would like to thank the Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Harney County Sheriff’s Office, Burns Police Department, Hines Police Department, Crook County 911, Frontier Dispatch, Oregon State Police Dispatch and Grant County Dispatch,” Zamora said in a news release.
“The Prineville Police Department appreciates the rapid response and assistance from all agencies involved. Their support played a key role in safely bringing this incident to a close,” the detective added.
Burns Police offered similar thanks in a Facebook post about the arrest: “A big thank-you to all agencies involved for their teamwork and dedication to keeping our community safe.”